FAQ
What is influenza?
How can I tell the difference between a cold and influenza?
Can the influenza vaccine give you influenza (the flu)?
Why do healthy people need influenza immunisation?
When should people get vaccinated?
Where can I get the vaccination?
Can the vaccination be given to children?
Flu Vaccine and Febrile Convulsions100510
After Your influenza Immunisation
How do they know which influenza virus will hit New Zealand?
Which strains of the influenza virus are covered by this year’s vaccine?
How safe is the vaccine?
How effective is the vaccine for healthy adults?
How long after vaccination does it take for antibodies to be produced?
Does the vaccination contain thiomersal or mercury?
Does the seasonal vaccine protect you from pandemic influenza?
Ask your doctor or nurse about influenza immunisation
Influenza can be a serious illness that usually causes epidemics every year during the winter months in New Zealand. The illness comes on suddenly with a fever or chills, sore throat, dry cough, headaches, fatigue, body aches and pains.
How can I tell the difference between a cold and influenza?
Influenza can be a much more serious illness than a common cold. Influenza can leave you ill for up to 10 days. Most people suffer from a high fever, tiredness and may require bed rest. Some may also suffer shivering attacks, muscular pains, headaches, a dry cough and vomiting. Complications, like pneumonia can follow. Immunisation against influenza is the best protection.
A cold has much less severe symptoms and generally lasts 2-4 days. High fever is less common and shivering attacks and severe headaches are rare. Muscular pains and vomiting are infrequent and the cough is less severe. There is no vaccine available for colds.
Influenza virus is different from a cold virus. A cold virus infects only the nose, throat and upper chest and only lasts for a few days.
Can the influenza vaccine give you influenza (the flu)?
You cannot get influenza from the vaccine. Many people confuse colds with influenza. There are many other viruses in the community which the influenza vaccine will not protect against.
Why do healthy people need influenza immunisation?
Being fit and healthy will not protect you from influenza. Influenza spreads very easily and by immunising against influenza you can protect yourself and lesson the chance of bringing it home to a baby, older relative or someone with a medical condition who could develop serious complications from influenza.
When should people get vaccinated?
Vaccinate as soon as possible after the vaccine becomes available (vaccine is usually available from March). It takes up to two weeks to develop immunity. Ideally, you should be vaccinated before the main influenza activity in May to September. High risk individuals can be immunised any time during the influenza season, but the vaccine is only free until the end of June.
Where can I get the vaccination?
a) Eligible people can get a free vaccination from your General Practice, and it is usually the practice nurse who administers the vaccine. The vaccine is injected into the upper arm. For children 6 months to 15 months, it is injected into the upper thigh.
b) Those not eligible for free vaccination: influenza vaccination is available from your local General Practice, Accident and Medical Center or workplace Occupational Health Service. Please contact your provider regarding vaccination charges.
Can the vaccination be given to children?
Yes. The vaccination is approved for children six months and over and is especially recommended if they have ongoing medical condition such as being on a preventive medication for asthma or aged from 6 months to their fifth birthday thought to be high risk. Check with your doctor for details.
How do they know which influenza virus will hit New Zealand?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) takes influenza very seriously. Each year the WHO Information Surveillance Network studies the different strains of influenza and monitors their movements around the globe. They then decide which strains of the virus are likely to emerge in different parts of the world and develop vaccinations for them.
Which strains of the influenza virus are covered by this year’s vaccine?
The influenza virus has many types. Each year the World Health Organisation makes recommendations for the strains that are in the influenza vaccine and the strains that should be circulating around New Zealand. This year’s vaccine includes:
- A/California/7/2009(H1N1) – like virus
- A/Perth/16/2009(H3N2) – like virus
- B/Brisbane/60/2008 – like virus
The vaccine cannot give you influenza as it only contains fragments of the virus. The vaccine stimulates the immune system to make antibodies that protect against circulating viruses. Most people have no reaction to the vaccine. Occasionally the site where the vaccination was given is red or sore for a day or two. Some people may feel unwell for a day or two. These are normal responses to the immunisation.
We’ve provided a copy of the After imunsation to download.
How effective is the vaccine for healthy adults?
Influenza vaccination is 80% effective in preventing infection with influenza A and B viruses in healthy adults under 65 years of age, when there is a good match between vaccine and circulating influenza strains.
How long after vaccination does it take to start providing protection?
It takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to give full protection.
Does the vaccination contain thiomersal or mercury?
It does not contain thiomersal (or any other mercury product).
Does the seasonal vaccine protect you from pandemic influenza?
The 2010 seasonal influenza vaccines do contain the Pandemic (H1N1) – swine flu strain.
Ask your doctor or nurse about influenza immunisation
Make sure you give yourself and your family the best protection against influenza.
Or for more information phone 0800 IMMUNE (0800 466 863)
